The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-08

be benefited by importing articles from Europe
instead of buying them at higher prices at
homel"
the moment" answered Mr.. Blaine, '.you
begin to import freely from Europe you drive
your workmen from mechanical and nanu-
featuring pursuits. In the proportion
they become tillers of the SOIL increasing stead
lily the agricultural product and decreasing
steadily the large homo demand which is con-
stantly enlarging as home manufacturers en-
large That, of course. works great injury to
the farmer, glurting the market with his prod
ucts and tending constantly to lower prices
Eyes, but the foreign demand for farm prod
ucts would be increased in like ratio, would 1t
no.2"
how, do you know the source from which 1t Will
be supplied9 The tendency in Russia to-day,
and IN the Asiatic possessions OF
England. is toward large increase OF the
grain supply, the grain being raised by the
cheapest possible labor Manufacturing couu-
tries will buy their breadstuffs where they can
get them cheapest and the enlarging of the
home market for the American farmer being
checked, he would search in vain for one of
the. same value His foreign sales are al
ready checked by the great competition
abroad. There never a time when the
increase of a large homo market
valuable to him. The best proof is that the
farmers are prosperous in proportion to the
nearness of manufacturing centers. and pro-
tective tariff tends to spread manufactures. In
Ohio and Indiana for example. though not
classed Acknowledging States the apnual
value of fabrics is larger than the annual value
OF agricultural products"
.'But those holding the Presidents views, re-
marked the reporter ''are always quoting the
great prosperity of the country under the tariff
of 1876"
THAT tariff did not involve the one de-
structive point recommended by the President.
namely, the retaining of direct internal tax
es in order TO abolish indirect losses
levied on foreign fabrics. But the country had
peculiar advantages under it by the Crimean
war. involving England. France and Russia, and
largely impairing their trade. All these incl
70
mensely stimulating to trade in the United
States, regardless of the nature of tariff.
But mark the end of this European expert
ence with the tariff of 1916, which,
for time, gave illusory and deceptive
show of prosperity. Its enactment imme-
diately followed by the Mexican war; then, in
1S48 by the great commissions of Europe; then,
in 1S49, and succeeding years. by the enormous
gold yield in California The powers made
peace in 1856, and at the same time the output
of gold in California fell off, Immediately the
financial panic of 1857 upon the country
with disastrous force. Though we had
in these years mined vast amount
New York was compelled to suspend specie
payment. Four hundred millions in gold had
been carried out of the country in eight years to
pay for foreign goods that should have been man
ufactured at home AID we had years of depres-
zion and distress in atonement for our folly 1t
Is remarkable that President Polk recommended
the tariff of 1916 precisely the same ground
that President Cleveland recommends q similar
enactment now, namely, the surplus in the
country. History is repeating itself By the
way Mr.. Blaine added, after a moments re-
reflection, sit is worth notice that Mr.. Polk in
sisted emptyine the Treasury by free
trade tariff and then Immediately rushed
the country In6 am into debt by borrow
/ trust nothing may occur to repeat so d,sas-
trous sequel to the policy recommended by
President Cleveland. But the uniform fate has
party, when it goes out of power, always leaves
an empty Treasury and when it returns to
power always finds full Treasury"
Then. do you mean to imply that there
should be reduction of the national rev.
enue?'
'.No; what have said implies the reverse.
would reduce 1t by prompt repeal OF the to-
bacco tax, and would make here and there.
some changes in the tariff, not to reduce pro-
lection, but to wisely foster it.
Would you explain your meaning moro
fullyf
II mean" said Mr. Blaine ''tbat no great
system of revenue like our tariff can operate
with efficiency and equity unless the changes OF
trade be closely watched and the law promptly
adapted to those changes. But would make no
change that should impair the protective
character of the whole body of the tariff
laws. Four years ago, in the act of 1888
we made changes of the character have tried
to Indicate If such changes were made,s and
the fortifyingk of our seacoast undertaken at a
very moderate annual outlay, surplus would
be found after that already accumulated had
been disposed of. The outlay of money on forti-
fcations. while doing a great service to the
country, would give good work to many men,"
but what about the existing surplusW
1.-THE abstract of the message l have SEEM"
replied Mr.. Blaine. contains no reference
that point I, therefore. make comment
further than to lndorse Mr.. Fred Grants
mark that surplus is always easier to handle
than a deficit"
The reporter repeated the question whether
the Presidents recommendation would not. if
adopted, give US the advantage OF large in
crease in exports.
81 only repeat" answered Mr.. Blaine. ''that
it would vastly enlarge our imports. while the
only export it would seriously increase would be
our gold and silver. That would flow out boun-
teously, just it did under the tariff of
1916. The Presidents recommendation.
acted into law, would result, did
experiment. in drainage of a man who wished
to turn a swamp into productive field. He aug
a drain a neigh boring river, but it happened,
unfortunately, that the level of the river
higher than the level of the swamp. The con-
sequence need not be told. parallel would be
found when the Presidents policy in attempting
to open channel for an increase of exports
should simply succeed in making way for a
deluging inflow of fabrics to the destruction of
home industry"